diff --git a/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go b/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go
index dea1d78bb..84ab8dc02 100644
--- a/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go
+++ b/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go
@@ -935,5 +935,5 @@ type healthMessageLabel struct {
 var metricHealthMessages = usermetric.NewMultiLabelMap[healthMessageLabel](
 	"tailscaled_health_messages",
 	"gauge",
-	"A gauge of health messages from control, by severity",
+	"Number of health messages broken down by severity.",
 )